Daring Fireball Linked List: William Safire Dies at 79
Gruber writes: “Without question, one of my favorite and most inspiring writers ever. Safire was the columnist’s columnist.”
If, by that, he means “making shit up to suit your political agenda,” then yes, Safire was the columnist’s columnist. Safire’s “On Language” column was excellent, even suberb, but his political hackery during the Bush administration, particularly with respect to the Valerie Plame incident, is a permanent blemish on his record.